Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

The impact of climate change on impoverished communities in East Africa was the focus of a recent discussion held at St. John’s University. The lecture series, titled “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor,” aims to shed light on the disproportionate effects of environmental change on the world’s most vulnerable populations.

The discussion, titled “Climate Change and Its Effects upon the Marginalized of Africa,” brought together experts from St. John’s University and Tangaza University College in Nairobi, Kenya. One of the presenters, Xavier Yego, a student from Tangaza, emphasized the devastating impact of drought on the lives of those living in near poverty.

Xavier spoke about the recent drought in Kenya, which lasted for five years and left over five million citizens facing food insecurity. He shared, "We lost livestock, and we lost people to starvation and a lack of water. More than 36.1 million people in East Africa have been affected. We also lost nine million livestock, which is the main source of revenue for most families in the region."

Xavier attributed the worsening drought conditions to the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer caused by deforestation. This has led to higher temperatures, contributing to drought and leaving many of Kenya’s poor without access to clean drinking water. Additionally, climate change has created unstable weather patterns, making it difficult for the population to prepare for sudden storms.

With aging dams and inadequate infrastructure, rainfall often leads to flooding, resulting in property and crop loss, as well as an increase in water-related illnesses such as cholera. Brother Andrew, who was part of the discussion, highlighted the efforts of the Kenyan government to address these issues. He mentioned that the government has implemented modern technologies and partnered with NGOs like the Red Cross to protect its citizens during emergencies.

Despite these efforts, there is still much work to be done. Brother Andrew acknowledged, "If these issues happen, the government does its best to partner with agencies to help those who are impacted. They do want to ensure that people are accommodated well and do not suffer."

The lecture series at St. John’s University aims to raise awareness about the intersection of climate change and poverty. The first lecture focused on environmental justice issues in India, and the upcoming lecture will address the impact of climate change on the poor in Europe.

By bringing together experts and students from different universities, these discussions provide an opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration in finding solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.